Headline inflation for March 2024, measured by the year-on-year (Y-o-Y) change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, has dropped sharply to 0.9 percent in March 2024 from 5.9 percent in February 2024, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) says. This deceleration in the headline inflation was broadly in line with the projections of the […]

Empower Her, Empower a Nation Empowering her is to empower a nation. Bringing its deep-rooted values to the spotlight this International Women’s Day, Siyapatha Finance PLC united together to celebrate the collective strength, power and achievement of woman and womanhood across the Island Nation. In hopes of enhancing women’s role in taking leadership, Siyapatha embarked […]

Sri Lanka was optimistic about resolving its debt restructuring issues in the second quarter to secure financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as external creditors are reportedly engaging positively, Bloomberg said quoting the country’s state finance minister. “We anticipate a favourable outcome,” stated state minister Shehan Semasinghe during discussions held in L...

By Hiran H.Senewiratne The Central Bank has taken steps to remove price controls on rupee lending rates from April 1, amid continuing falls in market rates. The price control order on rupee denominated lending products issued in August 2023 ‘contributed to reducing the overall market lending interest rates and therefore yielded the expected results, Central […]

In its quest to challenge Western hegemony in global governance and make itself more representative of the Global South, BRICS has begun to expand itself, including more new member nations. The expansion has led to a formal request by Pakistan to join BRICS in late 2023. This has led to discourse and speculations by scholars, […]

In an unprecedented display of candor, Premier Li Qiang’s inaugural government work report delivered a scathing indictment of the myriad economic woes plaguing China at the recently concluded National People’s Congress in Beijing. The wide-ranging report pulled no punches in exposing the cascading domestic fragilities and external hostilities that threaten to derail the world’s second-largest [...

Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a period of high growth, driven by proactive government policies, strategic investments, and concerted efforts aimed at unlocking the region’s immense potential. • Jammu and Kashmir contributes approximately 0.8 percent to India’s GDP, in alignment with its population share of 0.9 percent and its FDI and exports are expanding, with […]

Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a period of high growth, driven by proactive government policies, strategic investments, and concerted efforts aimed at unlocking the region’s immense potential. • Jammu and Kashmir contributes approximately 0.8 percent to India’s GDP, in alignment with its population share of 0.9 percent and its FDI and exports are expanding, with […]

President Ranil Wickremesinghe participating in a friendly discussion organized by the ‘United Youth Union’ on the theme ‘Future of our Youth’ in Polonnaruwa on Saturday (23), stressed the necessity of a new economic reform program for the country’s economic recovery. He requested for collective support from all citizens to prevent the next generation from inheriting […]

by Rajan Philips The Election Commission of India has set a staggering 44-day timetable for the country’s 18th Lok Sabha elections, between April 19 and June 1, with the results declared on June 4. There will be seven phases of voting – on April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, […]

After constructive discussions in Colombo, IMF Senior Mission Chief Peter Breuer and Deputy Mission Chief Ms. Katsiaryna Svirydzenka issued the following statement: “The IMF team reached staff-level agreement with the Sri Lankan authorities on the second review under the economic reform program supported by a 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and concluded the 2024 […]

… corruption cited as one of the three issues faced by the country Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Mizukoshi Thursday (21) urged Sri Lanka to turn the continuing economic, political and social crisis into an opportunity to achieve success. The Ambassador said that the country should take advantage of the continuing external pressure to adopt reforms, build-up […]

Following productive discussions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Sri Lankan authorities have achieved a staff-level agreement on economic policies, marking a significant step in concluding the second review of the 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF)-supported program and the 2024 Article IV Consultation. This was stated by Mr. Peter Breuer, IMF Senior Mission Chief during […]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached a staff-level agreement with the Sri Lankan authorities on the second review under the economic reform program supported by a 4-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. The EFF arrangement was approved by the IMF Executive Board for a total amount of SDR 2.3 billion (about US$3 billion) on March […]